I only killed two promoted enemies (unless thieves count for some reason); the general and the top-left sniper, and opened 1 door, yet Karel still shows up. Of course, I could just start over, but really I'm curious as to why this happened. I double-checked a few sources, and they all coincide with the idea that if you kill less than 3 promoted enemies and open fewer than 4 doors, then Harken will show up on turn 9. He doesn't.

Anyway I think I'll go ahead and play with Karel since this I screwed up this PT a couple ways already anyway. Here's some screens if anyone is interested. I think it's intriguing.

Attached Files

To be honest, whenever I get that bishop's level(for the life of me I can't remember his name...)Karel always shows up instead of Harken. And Jerme's I always see Harken. And I never hit the requirements for Karel ever. So... It might be the chapter, might be wrong.

I've also seen that it's based on character levels. If Raven, Guy, Bartre, and Dorcas outrank Lucius, Erk, Serra, and Priscilla, you get the version of the chapter with Jerme, and Harken will appear. If the combined level of the magic users is higher or equal, you get Kenneth's map, and will be able to recruit Karel.

I'm pretty sure that it's correct. That explanation has never been wrong in my experience.

You have to leave either that sniper or that general alive. Since the general and his knight cohort charge at you starting turn 1 (unless you use a Light Rune on the chokepoint), just ignore the sniper.

I'm guessing if you want Light Brand, Brave Sword and Harken, you get Jerme, and if you want Aura, Wo Dao and Karel, you get Kenneth. I guess it's impossible to get Karel on Jerme or Harken on Kenneth.

I'm guessing if you want Light Brand, Brave Sword and Harken, you get Jerme, and if you want Aura, Wo Dao and Karel, you get Kenneth. I guess it's impossible to get Karel on Jerme or Harken on Kenneth.

You are wrong. You can get either or them in both maps. For Karel, defeat 2 or more promoted enemies in Kenneth's version, or open 4+ doors in Jerme's version. For Harken, defeat 0 or 1 promoted enemies in Kenneth's version, or open less than 4 doors in Jerme's.

Better base stats. More people can recruit him (Eliwood, Hector, Oswin, Marcus, Lowen, Isadora) as opposed to Karel (who can only recruited by Lyndis and the main lord).Better support list.An arguably better personality. He can use axes whereas Karel can't. (And doesn't need a magic sword for indirect attack.)And, oh yeah! Access to the Brave Sword.

Hard mode Harken is 100% superior to Karel. Normal mode is easy enough that I really don't care who I get.

This, pretty much.

Harken's base strength is only 2 away from capping, and his 18 SPD means he can double many enemies. 42 HP and 16 DEF is nothing to laugh at defensively, and he has 2-range in Hand Axes. He can also use heavier weapons that Karel cannot without losing SPD, like the Brave Sword and the common Steel Sword.

And of course, the Brave Sword is awesome too. That STR and 4x attacks puts big dents in enemies.

And just how exactly does saying "Karel is inferior to Harken in basically every way" make us "hate" swordmasters? I can think up at least a dozen examples why that logic doesn't work. I happen to like the Swordmaster class myself, even though there are those that are less than stellar (like Karel and Karla for instance), and I can even admit that much. There's a difference between liking or hating a unit and knowing what's what about a unit.